The gaming industry is constantly evolving, with trends coming and going. One of the more recent fads has been virtual reality, yet indications suggest that interest in this area is waning. A recent announcement from a notable developer highlights the current challenges faced in the VR landscape.
People Can Fly is concluding all of its activities related to virtual reality, both in creation and distribution. This decision comes after numerous signs indicating that appreciation for VR has diminished significantly, leading to questions about the initial success of the technology.
According to market analyst MauroNL on Bluesky, the studio has chosen to gradually withdraw from its VR game publishing endeavors. Their final venture into this space will be Project Bifrost, anticipated to launch later this year, marking the end of their VR efforts.
The fundamental reason for this change seems to be a noticeable decline in gamer interest. In addition, People Can Fly has reported a drastic drop in investments from platforms that produce VR hardware, aimed at creating new titles for the medium.
Even Sony has taken note of the dwindling enthusiasm, having provided limited backing for their PS VR2. Recently, they opted to reduce its price from £529.99/€599.99 to a more accessible £399.99/€449.99, a clear signal of changing market dynamics.
The lingering question remains: is there a possibility for virtual reality to gain widespread appeal in the forthcoming times, or is it probable that the majority of gamers will prefer traditional gameplay experiences without such gadgets?